Turtle and shipwreck catamaran trips from Bridgetown cost $85 to $165 per adult and last 3 to 5 hours. December to April is peak season, and Silver Moon says its sails often sell out two months ahead.
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| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Back-to-ship | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3-Hour Turtle & Shipwreck SnorkelIncludes Unlimited drinks, Snorkeling and safety gear, Transport to and from the dock for south and west coast locations |
$85 per adult |
3 hours (leaves the dock 10:00 am, ends 1:00 pm) |
Limited to 36 passengers |
No age limit (FAQ) | Not stated | Sails in light to moderate showers; calls guests if severe weather forces a cancellation. No refund terms published. | Check dates | |
Daily Snorkel Lunch CruiseIncludes Transport to and from your hotel or the cruise ship terminal, Snorkel equipment and instruction, Unlimited drinks, Buffet lunch |
$110 per adult |
5 hours (9:30 am to 2:30 pm) |
Not stated | Check dates | ||||
Turtle & Shipwreck Snorkel with LunchIncludes Lunch on board, Unlimited drinks, Snorkeling and safety gear, Transport to and from the dock for south and west coast locations |
$110 per adult |
5 hours |
Limited to 36 passengers |
No age limit (FAQ) | Not stated | Sails in light to moderate showers; calls guests if severe weather forces a cancellation. No refund terms published. | Check dates | |
Submarine Day Dive |
$120 per adult |
About 1 hour 45 minutes, 40 to 45 minutes underwater |
No minimum age; children must be over 3 feet tall | Not stated | Cancel at least 24 hours before check-in; later cancellations and no-shows may be charged 15% of the booking. | Check dates | ||
The Afternoon CruiseIncludes Turtle snorkel stop, Open bar, Bajan dinner, Snorkelling equipment |
$155 per adult |
4 hours (departs 2:45 pm, back about 6:45 pm) |
About 12 guests |
No formal guarantee; operator says this sail suits ships with all-aboard of 7:30 pm or later | 50% deposit; full refund if cancelled more than 48 hours ahead, if Silver Moon cancels, or if the ship no longer docks in Barbados. | Check dates | ||
The Lunch CruiseIncludes Two snorkel stops (sea turtles, then a shipwreck or coral reef), Open bar, Family-style Bajan lunch and canapés, Mask and fins |
$165 per adult |
5 hours (departs 9:00 am, back about 2:00 pm) |
up to 12 guests |
Children of all ages welcome (adults-only sailings also offered) | No formal guarantee; says it has never caused a guest to miss a ship in over 20 years; lunch sail suits all-aboard of 3 pm or later | 50% deposit; full refund if cancelled more than 48 hours ahead, if Silver Moon cancels, or if the ship no longer docks in Barbados. | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 22, 2026. How we compare.
What the cruise lines list for their own excursions in Barbados, from their websites, next to a local operator's trip of the same kind.
| Line | Excursion | From | Length | Same kind of trip locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carnival |
$94.99 per person |
3.5 hours |
El Tigre Cruises, $85$9.99 less | |
Carnival |
$104.99 per adult |
4.5 hours |
||
Carnival |
$139.99 per adult |
4.5 hours |
Read on each cruise line's website on October 22, 2026. Lines change these prices often, so check the page before you book. Trips are matched by what each listing names; inclusions and transport differ, so open both. Every port compared.
Cruise ships berth at the Port of Bridgetown, completed in 1961 and dredged for large cruise ships in 2002, on Carlisle Bay west of the city center near Fontabelle. Barbados Port Inc. lists cruise ships at the 522 m Breakwater, the 307 m Sugar Berth, Berths 2 to 6 and the Bulk Facility. It gives a maximum draught of 11 m alongside and a maximum vessel length of 244 m (293 m with bow thrusters). The terminal is managed privately by Bridgetown Cruise Terminal Inc. It holds customs, immigration, a post office, a Visitor Information Centre, 61 shops and bars, free Wi-Fi and a Tour Departure Area for pre-booked tours.
Cruise Critic puts the pier roughly a mile west of the city center, a 10- to 15-minute walk. It advises settling the taxi fare and its currency before the ride, and its members report waits of up to 30 minutes for a taxi back from downtown. Brandon's Beach is about five minutes away by car and Pebbles and Brownes beaches about 10 minutes south. The port's pages give no taxi fares or shuttle prices.
Silver Moon and Atlantis Submarines both leave from the Shallow Draught, a 156 m berth inside the port complex with 6.8 m of water. Atlantis says it is a few minutes from the cruise ships. Silver Moon adds a $15 per person shuttle from the terminal and advises against walking, because it is easy to get lost and clearing port security takes time. Cool Runnings includes transport from the cruise ship terminal in its price without naming a pickup spot. El Tigre sails from the Bridgetown dock and provides transport from south and west coast locations, but publishes no terminal pickup.
Barbados keeps Atlantic Standard Time, UTC minus 4. From the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March, when Florida is on Eastern Standard Time, Bridgetown runs an hour ahead of the Florida home ports; in summer the two match. Barbados Port Inc. publishes its cruise schedule as a PDF, last updated September 30, 2026, and runs a vessel schedule portal, so call times can be checked before booking.
Silver Moon ties each sail to an all-aboard time. The Lunch Cruise leaves the Shallow Draught at 9 am and is back about 2 pm, which it says suits ships with all-aboard at 3 pm or later. The Afternoon Cruise leaves at 2:45 pm and returns about 6:45 pm, for all-aboard at 7:30 pm or later (its FAQ says ships departing after 7 pm). It recommends at least 45 minutes between the return and all-aboard, and says it has never caused a guest to miss a ship in more than twenty years. If a late ship means missing the sail, it will try to rebook or refund in full.
El Tigre's 3-hour turtle and shipwreck trip leaves at 10 am and ends at 1 pm, and its 5-hour lunch cruise lists no times. Cool Runnings sails from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. The Atlantis submarine takes about 1 hour 45 minutes in all, with 40 to 45 minutes underwater, and the company says cruise guests have several departures a day. None of the three states a back-to-ship guarantee.
The turtle stop on these trips is in 15 to 25 feet (5 to 8 m) of water and the shipwreck stop in about 25 feet, according to El Tigre. It says the turtles are wild and gives a 98% chance of seeing them. Carnival's Tiami catamaran excursion names the sheltered water of Carlisle Bay for its turtle swim and says sightings are not guaranteed. El Tigre's snorkel stops last 45 minutes each, and its 60-foot catamarans sail when the wind is over 10 knots and motor otherwise to keep to schedule.
Prices run from $85 for El Tigre's 3-hour trip (children under 12, $50) to $110 for its 5-hour lunch cruise, both capped at 36 guests. Cool Runnings charges $110 per adult, $55 for children 4 to 12 and $15 for infants, for 5 hours with turtles, a wreck where guests feed fish, a beach stop, buffet lunch and unlimited drinks. Silver Moon's 5-hour Lunch Cruise starts at $165 for about twelve guests, with two snorkel stops, an open bar and a family-style Bajan lunch; its 4-hour Afternoon Cruise starts at $155.
Atlantis Submarines charges $120 per adult for a dive to as much as 150 feet, passing the Lord Willoughby wreck at 120 feet, with a transfer boat out to the submarine. Children must be over 3 feet tall and everyone must climb 11 ladder steps unaided. Carnival's own catamaran trips cost $94.99 for a 3.5-hour power catamaran, $104.99 for the 4.5-hour Tiami sail (children $94.99, minimum age 6) and $139.99 for a 4.5-hour all-inclusive catamaran.
Silver Moon is the only operator here that spells out ship-day terms. It takes a 50% deposit and refunds in full for cancellations more than 48 hours ahead, when it cancels, or when the ship no longer docks in Barbados. It sails with about twelve guests, against the 40 to 60 it says cruise line excursions carry. The $15 shuttle is added to bookings by default, according to its FAQ. Peak season, December to April, often sells out up to two months ahead.
El Tigre caps its public cruises at 36 on catamarans built for more, has no age limit, and runs in light to moderate showers; for severe weather it calls guests to reschedule. It publishes no refund terms and no cruise terminal pickup, though it describes the 3-hour trip as good for cruise passengers and families with small children. Cool Runnings includes terminal transfers, instruction and gear, and states no cancellation policy, boat capacity or pickup point.
Atlantis Submarines asks for cancellations at least 24 hours before check-in; later cancellations and no-shows may be charged 15%, according to the data. Its tour page links to a policy without stating it. The submarine is not wheelchair accessible, no food or drink is allowed on board, the cabin is air-conditioned, and the company says the ride suits people prone to motion sickness. Its cruise guest page recommends booking through the cruise line, and on October 22, 2026 its homepage carried a temporary closure notice for annual re-certification without dates.
from $85 per adult
3-Hour Turtle & Shipwreck Snorkel and 1 more option
No back-to-ship policy stated
Runs the catamarans El Tigre and El Tigre II; says it caps cruises at 36 although the boats can carry 50
from $110 per adult
Daily Snorkel Lunch Cruise
No back-to-ship policy stated
Stops for sea turtles, a shipwreck and a beach in a secluded bay, per the operator
from $120 per adult
Submarine Day Dive
No back-to-ship policy stated
Dives as deep as 150 feet; the operator says the Lord Willoughby wreck lies at 120 feet
from $155 per adult
The Afternoon Cruise and 1 more option
Back to ship: No formal guarantee; says it has never caused a guest to miss a ship in over 20 years; lunch sail suits all-aboard of 3 pm or later
Also sells The 11 O'Clock, which it calls its longest day on the water, from $250
Prices and policies come from each operator's own pages, read on October 22, 2026. Seasons, rules and local details come from the pages below.